Child car seat and base

ABSTRACT

A car seat and base are provided for controlling movement of the car seat during deceleration of a vehicle in which the car seat and base are secured.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority and is a continuation of U.S. Utilitypatent application Ser. No. 14/238,313, having a 371(c) date of Aug. 18,2014 which is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No.PCT/US2012/051605 filed Aug. 20, 2012, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/525,663, filed Aug. 19, 2011,titled “Child Car Seat and Base” to Mark A. Sedlack, the entiredisclosures of each of the aforementioned applications are expresslyincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to generally to a child car seat, andmore particularly to a child car seat attached to a base mountable in avehicle.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention a combination car seat and car seatbase is provided that is configured to adsorb inertial energy in theevent of deceleration of a car or other change in velocity of the car.

According on aspect of the present disclosure, a car seat and car seatbase combination are provided that compensate for movement of thecombination during deceleration such that a child position in the carseat is more erect in the car seat than they otherwise would be. Assuch, potential reclining of the car seat during deceleration isreduced, eliminated, or otherwise countered.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a combination isprovided including a car seat configured to receive a child, and a carseat base configured to secure the car seat to a car. The car seat baseincludes a car base member configured to be pivotably coupled to a car,a pivot member pivotably coupled to base member, and a seat base memberpivotably coupled to pivot member and slidably coupled to car seat basemember

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, one or more compliantmembers are provided that adsorb the inertial energy. One compliantmember may permanently adsorb the energy. Another compliant member maytemporarily adsorb the energy.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a combination isprovided including a car seat configured to receive a child, and a carseat base configured to secure the car seat to a car. The car seat baseincludes a first compliant member and a second compliant member.Inertial energy of the car seat is absorbed by the first compliantmember during movement of the car seat in a forward direction relativeto the car when secured to a car and a majority of the inertial energyadsorbed by the first compliant member is not returned to the car seat.Inertial energy of the car seat is absorbed by the second compliantmember during movement of the car seat in the forward direction and amajority of the inertial energy absorbed by the second compliant memberis returned to the car seat.

According to another aspect of the present inventions, a combination isprovided including a car seat configured to receive a child, and a carseat base configured to secure the car seat to a car. The car seat baseincludes a compliant member, and an expansion member positioned toexpand the compliant member. The compliant member adsorbs inertialenergy of the car seat during expansion by the expansion member duringmovement of the car seat in a forward direction relative to the car whensecured to a car.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a combination isprovided including a car seat configured to receive a child and a carseat base configured to secure the car seat to a car. The car seat baseincludes a car base member configured to be coupled to a car, a seatbase member coupled to car seat base member, and an inertia dampeningassembly configured to dampen movement of car seat relative to the car.At least one of the car base member and the seat base member includes awindow positioned to allow viewing of the inertia dampening assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features of the disclosure, and the mannerof attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure itselfwill be better understood by reference to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of a child car seat mounted on a basethat is secured to a vehicle seat showing the child car seat in ainitial, normal use position;

FIG. 1B is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the base sunken into thevehicle seat in response to a vehicle collision impact and the positionof the child seat relative to the base altered as a result of thecollision vehicle impact;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the child car seat and base of FIG. 1showing portions of an underside thereof including an inertia dampeningassembly including a spring and other components positioned to absorbinertia of the child car seat during vehicle impact;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view showing the spring and other componentsof the inertia dampening assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the child car seat and base includingshells covering components of the base;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the child car seat removedfrom the base;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a car seat attachment removedfrom the base;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 6 showing the shells removedand portions of an adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the base of FIG. 7 showing additionalportions of the adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment child car seatbase;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the child car seat base of FIG.9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment complianttubular members of the car seat base of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the compliant tubular member of FIG. 11positioned within a collar positioned over a tubular member;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the compliant tubular member and collarof FIG. 12 along with a spring, expansion member, and slidable bracketpositioned over the tubular member;

FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the child car seat base ofFIG. 9 and a car seat positioned on the car seat base; and

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the car seat rotated in acounter-clockwise direction to compress a guard provided betweencomponents of the car seat base.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and suchexemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the followingdetailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and describedso that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

Referring to FIG. 1A, an exemplary child car seat 10 and base 12 areshown. Car seat 10 generally includes a car seat shell 14. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, car seat shell 14 is coupled to base 12 by a car seatattachment 16 that complements an underside 18 of car seat shell 14.Additional details of child car seat 10 and a suitable attachmentbetween car seat shell 14 and base 12 are provided in U.S. Pat. No.7,004,541 to Mark Sedlack, titled “Adjustable Infant Car Seat withMultiple-Range Angle Indicator”, filed May 11, 2004, the entiredisclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. Forillustrative purposes, car seat attachment 16, an adjustment assembly 18(see, for example, FIG. 7), and covers 22 (see, for example, FIG. 6) arenot shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and other figures. As used herein, the term“car” is intended to include cars, trucks, vans, SUV's and othervehicles suitable for transporting children.

According to the present disclosure, the position and orientation ofchild car seat 10 relative to base 12 can change during a vehicle impactduring a collision. For example, child car seat 10 moves forward anddown relative to base 12 from the position shown in FIG. 1A(pre-collision) to the position shown in FIG. 1B (collision maximummovement).

Base 12 includes a U-shaped tubular car base member 24 having a pair oflegs 26 and a bend 28 connecting pair of legs 26. Ends of legs 26 eachinclude a latch 30 that connect to the two lower anchors 32 of theuniversal LATCH system for vehicle car seats. Additional details ofsuitable latches 30 are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,541,incorporated by reference above. According to alternative embodiments ofthe present disclosure, tubular base member may be coupled to thevehicle using the vehicle's lap belt. Latches 30 may be replaced with ahousing or other structure coupled to legs 26 that receives a portion ofthe lap belt, which is secured on one side to the vehicle and on theother side with the seat buckle. The housings may also be incorporatedinto latch 30 rather than replacing latches 30.

During a collision, forward momentum of car seat 12, any occupanttherein, and base 12 cause U-shaped tubular base member to rotateclockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 1A and 1B) about anchors 32 causingtubular car base member 24 to compress vehicle cushion 34 as shown inFIG. 1B. As a result of this rotation, portions of car seat 12 and theoccupant therein lower during the collision.

Base 12 further includes an attachment assembly 36 coupled to base 12and car seat attachment 16 that changes the position and orientation ofchild car seat 10 relative to base 12 during a vehicle collision impactduring a collision as mentioned above. Attachment assembly 36 includesfirst pivot members 38 pivotably coupled to U-shaped tubular car basemember 24, slidable brackets 40 slidably coupled to U-shaped tubular carbase member 24, and a car seat base member 42 pivotably coupled to firstpivot members 38 and slidable brackets 40 that support car seatattachment 16 (shown in FIG. 5). During a collision, first pivot member38 rotates clockwise, slidable bracket 40 slides to the right, and carseat base member 42 rotates counterclockwise and moves to the right withslidable bracket 40 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. During this movement,back end 44 of car seat base member 42 lowers, pulling a back end 46 ofcar seat 10 down with it. As a result of this downward movement of backend 46 of car seat 10, back end 46 lowers relative to a front end 48 ofcar seat 10 causing car seat 10 to rotate in a counterclockwisedirection relative to U-shaped tubular car base member 24. Thecounterclockwise rotation of car seat 10 relative to U-shaped tubularcar base member 24 counters the clockwise rotation U-shaped tubular carbase member 24 mentioned above. According to the preferred embodiment ofthe present disclosure, this counterclockwise rotation overcompensatesfor the clockwise movement so that the inclination of car seat 10increases as a result of the collision. By increasing the angle ofinclination, the occupant of the car seat is more upright to absorb theimpact of the collision. First pivot members 38, portions of car seatbase member 42, slidable brackets 40, and other components of base 12are covered by covers 22 as shown in FIGS. 4-6.

To further reduce the impact of a collision, base 12 further includes aninertia dampening assembly 50 that dampens the movement of car seat 10from the position shown in FIG. 1A to the position shown in FIG. 1B.Dampening assembly 50 includes a pair of collars 51 coupled to oppositelegs 26 of U-shaped tubular car base member 24, a pair of coil springs52 positioned around legs 26, a pair of compliant tubular members 54positioned around legs 26 inside of coil springs 52, and a pair ofexpansion members 56 positioned around legs 26 inside of coil springs 52as shown in FIG. 3. Expansion members 56 are positioned between slidablebrackets 40 and compliant tubular members 54.

As discussed above, slidable brackets 40 move to the right during acollision as shown in FIG. 1B. During this movement, slidable brackets40 compress coil springs 52 to absorb a portion of the momentum of carseat 10 and the occupant. If the impact is significant enough, slidablebrackets 40 will move expansion members 56 into contact with complianttubular members 54 as compliant tubular members 54 abut collars 51. Asshown in FIG. 3, expansion members 56 have a tapered end 58 that has anoutside diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of complianttubular members 54 so that a portion of each expansion member 56 fits ineach compliant tubular member 54. As slidable brackets 40 move expansionmembers 56 further into contact with compliant tubular members 54,expansion members 56 expand compliant tubular members 54 outward toabsorb even more of the momentum.

After the forward movement of car seat 10 relative to base 12 iscomplete, coil springs 52 push slidable brackets 40 backward causing carseat 10 to move in a clockwise direction relative to base 12 as vehiclecushion 34 moves base 12 in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, aportion of the impact energy absorbed by dampening assembly 50 is usedto return car seat 10 to the position shown in FIG. 1A. The energyabsorbed by tubular members 54 as they were expanded by expansionmembers 56 is not returned. Thus, the amount of energy absorbed bydampening assembly 50 is greater than the amount of energy returned.Inherently, frictional loses will also impact the amount of energy thatis returned compared to amount of energy absorbed. However, the amountof energy returned will be less than the amount of energy absorbed evenwhen these frictional losses are factored out. By limited the amount ofenergy returned, the energy and speed of returning car seat 10 to itsoriginal position is decreased. Furthermore, if the collision (or suddenstopping without a collision) is less severe, expansion member will nothave expanded compliant tubular members 54 and compliant tubular members54 will remain available to absorb energy in any potential future, moresevere collision. In other words, coil springs 52 may be sufficient toabsorb the momentum alone.

The initial angle of inclination of car seat 10 relative to base 12 canbe adjusted. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, base 12 includes an adjustmentassembly 60 having a base 62 including collars 64, 66 that slide overlegs 26 of U-shaped tubular car base member 24, a button 68 slidable onbase 62, a pair of levers 70, a pair of straps 72 extending betweenbutton 68 and levers 70, a pair of pins 74, and a pair of return springs76. Collars 64 are positioned behind sliding brackets 40 and control theinitial position of sliding brackets 40 and thus, the initial angularposition of car seat 10 relative to base 12. Pins 74 are partiallyreceived within collars 66 and extend into respective pairs of apertures78 in legs 26 of U-shaped tubular members 24. When pins 74 arepositioned in a respective pair of apertures 78, the relative positionof base 62 of adjustment assembly 60 is fixed, also fixing the initialposition of sliding brackets 40. When pins 74 are removed from apertures78, base 62 can slide along legs 26. As base 62 slides, sliding brackets40 also slide, changing the initial angle of inclination of car seat 10relative to base 12. For example, as base 62 slides forward, the angleof initial inclination decreases. As base 62 slides backward, the angleof initial inclination increase.

As base 62 slides forward, coil springs 52 compress. As base 62 slidesbackward, coil springs 52 decompress. Thus, the amount of initialcompression of coil springs 52 can also be adjusted.

To remove pins 74 from apertures 78, a user pushes on button 68 bygripping a forward portion of base 62 and button 68. As button 68 isdepressed, straps 72 pull levers 70 inward, which pull pins 74 inwardout of apertures 78. When button is released, springs 76 push levers 60outward, which push pins 76 outward and into respective apertures 78that are aligned with pins 76.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 4-7, base 12 further includes anextension 80 coupled to car seat base member 42. As shown in FIGS. 4-7,extension is U-shaped having a pair of legs 82 and a bend 84. As shownin FIG. 1A, legs 82 are curved having a profile that substantialcorresponds to the contour of back cushion 86 of the vehicle seat. Inthe normal use position, legs 82 are positioned above lumbar portion 88of cushion 86. During a collision, legs 82 slide along lumber portion88. Furthermore, during return of car seat 10 to its initial positionafter a collision, legs 82 contact cushion 86 and block car seat 10 fromrotating counterclockwise much past the initial position as legs 82compress cushion 86. To the extent car seat 10 rotates counterclockwisepast the initial position, cushion 86 will decompress to return car seat10 to the initial position. Thus, extension 80 restricts the ability ofcar seat 10 to overshoot the initial position after a collision.According to one embodiment, extension 80 is rotatably coupled to carseat base member 42. During installation of car seat 10 and base 12, theposition of extension 80 can be adjusted by rotating it relative to carseat base member 42. This position can then be fixed.

An alternative embodiment car seat base 112 is shown in FIGS. 9-14 thatis similar to car seat base 12 (similar or the same numbering isprovided on components that are similar or the same for the two car seatbases, 12, 112). The features of each car seat base 12, 112 may beprovided on the other car seat base 112, 12.

In car seat base 112, a car seat base member 142 incorporates the carseat attachment so that car seat 10 connects directly to car seat basemember 142. In this embodiment, car seat base member 142 is made ofthree molded plastic components 115, 117, 119 that are connected withfasteners 121, such as screws or rivets. Metal rods, not shown, extendtransversely across plastic components 115, 117, 119 to provideadditional rigidity and strength.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, cover 122 of car seat base 112 includes amain portion 123 and a window portion 125. Main portion 123 ispreferably made of opaque or translucent plastic material that isdifficult to see through. Window portion 125 is made of a transparentplastic material that can be seen through. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10,window portion 125 allows a user to view inertia dampening assembly 150.As such, a user can view the operation of inertia dampening system 150and also determine if tubular compliant members 154 were expanded.

Tubular compliant member 154 of car seat base 112 is shown in detail inFIGS. 11-13. As shown in FIG. 11, compliant member 154 includes a pairof ears or tabs 127 that are received in tab-receiving recesses 129 incollars 151 of inertia dampening assembly 150. Springs 52 retain tabs127 in tab-receiving recesses 129 to maintain the alignment compliantmembers 154 on legs 26 so that expansion members 56 are also alignedwith compliant members 154 during activation of inertia dampeningassembly 150.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, car seat base member 142 includes a pair ofcurved slots 131 to receive lap car seat belts (not shown). If anchors32 are not provided on a car in which car seat base 112 is used, a usermay extend a car seat belt through curved slots 131 and latch andtighten the seat belt to pivotably couple or secure car seat base 112 tothe car.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, first members 138 of attachment assembly136 are curved. Stop members 133 are provided on legs 26 of U-shapedtubular car base member 24 to control the rearward movement of slidablebrackets 40.

As shown in FIGS. 14, and 15, a gap 135 exists between a portion 137 ofcar seat base member 142 and a portion 139 of cover 122. According tothe present disclosure, a compliant member 141 is provided that extendsbetween portion 137 of car seat base member 142 and portion 139 of cover122 to substantially fill in or block gap 135. Complaint member 141includes a hinged member 143 that is pivotably coupled to portion 137 ofcar seat base member 142, a spring posts 145 pivotably coupled toU-shaped tubular car base member 24, and a plurality of springs 147positioned over spring posts 145 to urge hinged member 143 towardportion 137 of car seat base member 142. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15,hinged member 143 compresses springs 147 during movement of car seatbase member 142 relative to U-shaped tubular base member 24 as thedistance between portion 137 of cover and portion cover 122 changes.

While this invention has been described as having preferred designs, thepresent invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope ofthis disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its generalprinciples. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

What is claimed is:
 1. A car seat base including: a body; at least onecoupler attached to the body and positioned to selectively couple thecar seat base to a vehicle; a car seat attacher providing at least onesurface for selective coupling and decoupling of a child car seat to andfrom the car seat base while the car seat base remains secured to thevehicle, the car seat attacher being slidably coupled to the body; apivot member pivotably coupled on one end to the body and on the otherend to the car seat attacher to change the orientation of the car seatattacher relative to the body in response to an inertial event.
 2. Thecar seat base of claim 1, wherein the coupler pivotably couples the carseat base to the vehicle.
 3. The car seat base of claim 1, wherein thebase includes two leg portions.
 4. The car seat base of claim 3, whereinthe car seat attacher is slidably coupled to each of the leg portionsseparately.
 5. The car seat base of claim 3, wherein the pivot memberincludes two pivot members, with one pivot member being pivotablycoupled to each leg portion.
 6. The car seat base of claim 3, whereinthe leg portions are fixed relative to each other.
 7. The car seat baseof claim 1, wherein the at least one coupler is sized and shaped toattach to a universal LATCH system for vehicle car seats.
 8. The carseat base of claim 1, further including a biaser that biases the carseat attacher towards a first position where the pivot member provides amaximum height differential between points at which the pivot membercouples to the body and the car seat attacher.
 9. The car seat base ofclaim 8, wherein sliding movement of the attacher along the base duringan inertial event causes relative movement between the car seat attacherand the body in a direction opposite of biasing provided by the biaser.10. The car seat base of claim 1, wherein the at least one coupler ispositioned to be at a rear end of the body when coupled to a vehicleseat, the body further including a front end and a rear end relative tothe vehicle when secured to the vehicle, an inertial event experiencedby the car seat attacher causes a front end of the car seat attacher torise relative to a rear end of the car seat attacher.
 11. The car seatbase of claim 1, wherein the pivot member is coupled to the car seatattacher and extends downward from the car seat attacher to couple tothe body.
 12. The car seat base of claim 1, wherein the car seat baseincludes a rear end and a forward end relative to the vehicle whensecured to the vehicle, the pivot member is pivotably coupled to theseat attacher at a pivot location, and the pivot location moves towardthe forward end of the car seat base as the attacher slides toward theforward end of the car seat base.
 13. The car seat base of claim 1,further comprising a compliant member, wherein inertial energy of a carseat is absorbed by the compliant member during movement of the car seatin a forward direction relative to the car when secured to a car and amajority of the inertial energy is not returned to the car seat.